In a significant development, Sri Lanka and India have reached a consensus to establish a submarine cable for connecting their power grids, steering away from the conventional method of laying overhead transmission lines, as disclosed by a high-ranking official.
The official reported that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd have concluded the technical report, which will be submitted to the joint working group chaired by the secretaries of the line ministries in both countries. This group will be responsible for devising the modalities for the seamless implementation of the grid connectivity project.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official revealed that a virtual discussion took place between the CEB and Indian authorities earlier this week, culminating in the agreement on the deployment of an undersea cable to interconnect the power grids of the two nations. He highlighted that opting for overhead transmission lines would entail additional maintenance costs in the future, and construction challenges, particularly in erecting pylons mid-sea.
The business modality for executing this groundbreaking project is yet to be finalized, marking the next step in the collaborative effort between Sri Lanka and India to enhance power grid connectivity through innovative and efficient means.
